Dade County History Book

Eddie was #8 of nine children born to Mae Forester and Roy West of Rising Fawn, GA. He is married to Glenda Sue Castleberry, daughter of Bonnie Reeves and George Castleberry and enjoys the love of two daughters, Renee West Hellerstedt and Rhonda West. Eddie and Glenda have four grandchildren, Jordan Dent, Sawyer Byers, Laura Beth and Bonnie Hellerstedt. He always said the good lord only blessed him with a certain amount of talent because he was afraid I would abuse it with the wrong type of music. His favorite style of music is “gospel” and he has been blessed with Dade Countians by being asked to play at singings, funerals, weddings, school specials, Miss Dade County Pagants, and churches. He traveled with “the Marksmen Quartet” out of Clarksville, TN. and has been pianist for several groups in Dade County (including the Victory Sounds Quartet, Melody Masters, and many more within the tri-state area and is thankful for having been a part of those groups.

He played duets with Monty Milliard at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor for 4 years, but never enjoyed the atmosphere. He also has provided dinner music at Lookout Golf Club, Lookout Mountain and at Holiday Inn’s Player Court in Chattanooga.

Ed’s first piano solo was “Down On My Knees” at the Wilder Road Rock Church in Chickamauga, GA. at age 5.His family lived in Chickamauga for eight years and he started to school at Osborn Elementary. There he took his first piano lessons from Ms. Evelyn Hughes. When the family moved back to Dade County, he was taught piano by Mr. Dixie Brown, teacher at Rising Fawn, who played a mean boogie. Ed also studied from LaSalle Extension University while living on Pudding Ridge.

Eddie would like to thank all those who helped and encouraged him at a very young age. Thanks also to all the wonderful musicians who are so good to help each other. One in particular is Phyllis Smith, who has so wonderfully provided piano playing for church services much of her lifetime – a super musician.